The Great Salt Lake and the brine shrimping ecosystem

The Great Salt Lake is one of Utah’s most unique natural wonders, not just for its surreal landscapes and pink shorelines. But for the brine shrimp ecosystem that thrives within it. This tiny but powerful industry connects global food supply chains, migratory bird habitats, and Utah’s economy, making conservation of the lake more important than ever.

Brine shrimp: small creatures with a big impact.

Brine shrimp may be small, but they play a critical role in the Great Salt Lake’s ecosystem. These microscopic creatures feed millions of migratory birds each year, including pelicans, grebes, and avocets that stop at the lake during their long journeys along the Pacific Flyway. Without healthy brine shrimp populations, these bird species would lose one of their most essential feeding grounds.

The brine shrimping industry.

Beyond the birds, the Great Salt Lake supports a multi-million dollar brine shrimping industry. Brine shrimp cysts, harvested each fall, are exported worldwide as feed for aquaculture, especially shrimp and fish farms. This makes the lake not only an ecological treasure but also an economic engine with global reach.

Threats to the ecosystem.

As water levels in the Great Salt Lake drop to historic lows, salinity levels rise, threatening the delicate balance brine shrimp need to survive. Without them, bird populations collapse, and the brine shrimping industry faces severe losses. Protecting the lake isn’t just about saving a landscape — it’s about safeguarding an entire interconnected system of wildlife, industry, and community health.

Why conservation matters.

Healthy snowpack and water inflows from the Wasatch Mountains are key to stabilizing the Great Salt Lake. Every effort to conserve water, from smarter irrigation practices to reducing urban waste, contributes to keeping the lake alive. For Utahns, protecting the lake means preserving biodiversity, sustaining jobs, and maintaining a defining part of the state’s identity.

The Great Salt Lake is more than a landmark, it’s the foundation of a living ecosystem and economy built on the humble brine shrimp. Protecting it means supporting migratory birds, sustaining Utah’s industries, and ensuring the survival of one of the most unique natural environments in the world.